Modular device for electrical connections and applications thereof

ABSTRACT

A modular device for forming electrical connections formed of a split, insulated central body with a conductive plate passing therethrough and a pair of complementary bodies each having a conductive strip and adapted to cooperate with the central body to electrically connect the conductive strips.

United States Patent [1 1 Debaigt [45] July 31,1973

[ MODULAR DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF [75] Inventor: Jean Debaigt, Maison-Laffitte,

France [73] Assignee: Compagnie Generale DEntreprises Electriques, Levallois-Perret, France 22 Filed: on. 19, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 82,192

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 738,882, June 21, 1968.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 21, 1967 France 671 11387 Dec. 18, 1967 France 67132743 [52] U.S. Cl. 339/205, 339/213 R [51] Int. Cl. H01! 13/48 [58] Field of Search 339/259, 273, 217, 339/103, 268, 205, 206, 201, 202, 213

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,216 8/1918 Hawthorne 339/103 R 3,056,852 10/1962 Sachs 339/103 B X 2,387,630 10/1945 Weakley 339/213 X 2,015,418 9/1935 Wermine 339/63 3,166,371 1/1965 Brown et a1. 339/211 X 3,090,027 5/1963 Phillips et a1. 339/63 X 3,324,447 6/1967 Pistey 339/206 X 3,436,715 4/1969 Matthews 339/91 X 3,440,596 4/1969 Frompovicy 339/206 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Attorney-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak s7 ABSTRACT A modular device for forming electrical connections formed of a split, insulated central body with a conductive plate passing therethrough and a pair of complementary bodies each having a conductive strip and adapted to cooperate with the central body to electrically connect the conductive strips.

21 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 3 1 I973 SHEET 6 OF 7 PATENIEDJULBHQYS 3 750,093

SHEET 5 [1F 7 MODULAR DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 738,882, filed June 21, 1968.

' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to electrical connecting elements adapted to form a matrix for interconnecting various conductors.

2. Description of the Prior Art 'A connecting element for electrical connections is generally called a bushing and usually has an elongated shape, being constructed to interconnect at least one electrical conductor at one of its extremities with at least another conductor at its other extremity, the electrical communication being permanently secured, inside said element, between these electrical conductors by means of conductive parts duly insulated from outside and from each other by the walls of the bushing and/or by insulating walls inside this latter.

Such bushings may be used alone or assembled together, for example, in strips. Numerous devices already exist to build these assemblies, allowing an easy access, on each side of the strip, to the terminals where the conductors have to be connected to on either side of the strip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved type of bushing, i.e., a modular device for electrical connections, permitting the formation of strips comprising as many bushings as wanted assembled together, each of these bushings being essentially constituted by an insulating body provided with means for the connection with identical adjacent bodies, or the formation of actual plane matrices made of strips assembled together, comprising lines and columns containing as many bushings as necessary, said bushings being arranged together in such a manner that it is possible to take off any one of them without having to dismount or to displace the adjacent ones. It is also possible to insert a new bushing in the place of another one which has just been taken off, without having to remove any one of the next elements.

Further, the present invention makes it possible to associate to each of the above-mentioned bodies, which will be hereafter called central bodies, one or two complementary bodies, facilitating the removal and connection of flexible conductors with the central bodies.

Such assemblies may be used in various cases: for example, it may be necessary to connect together the wiring arriving to the matrix with the wiring leaving it, the two sorts of conductors being either brought on one face only of the matrix, the other face being reserved for the bridges, i.e., the connections between terminals connecting together the different conductors, according to a predetermined scheme, or, in a more simple case, the two sorts of conductors being respectively connected on each side of the matrix, constituting thus simple passing-through circuits and leaving however the possibility to makebridges on one or the other face, or even on both faces of the matrix if necessary.

Each central body is composed of two half-bodies, the front one and the rear one, fixed together by pins, spigot joints, fasteners, or similar, each one corresponding to the face of the strip or of the matrix, which force bears the same name in said strip matrix; each central body is provided inside with a conductive member which passes through it lengthwise and is fixed on the one or the other or even on both half-bodies by spigot-joints or fasteners for example.

Each half-body terminates outwards by a recess or cavity sufficiently deep to allow the extremities of the central conductive member which is contained therein to be insulated from the outside. It is inside the said cavities that the extremity of the single or multiple conductive cable reaches the corresponding element, either directly or by means of a complementary body according to the invention.

The central body according to the invention offers an approximately square cross-section. It comprises in the vicinity of its middle section two bosses, placed on two of its opposite faces, and on its two other faces, recesses the shape and deepness of which correspond approximately to the shape and relief of the said bosses.

In a strip, the central bodies are successively placed side by side, the even bodies being previously turned by a quarter turn around their longitudinal axiswith respect to the odd bodies.

Thus, the bosses of one family of bodies, the even ones for example, fit inside the recesses of the bodies of the other family, so that a simple lateral squeeze is sufficient to keep. the whole in place.

One proceeds thesame way when a matrix is to be built, except that it is necessary to pay attention to shift by one unit the even bodies and the odd bodies in each one of the lines of the matrix with respect to the preceding line and to the following line.

The fixing together of the two half-bodies could also be achieved through the cooperation between bosses conveniently placed on one of the half-bodies and recesses constituting for example clamps, corresponding to the said bosses, on the other half-body.

In the same way the central conductive member may comprise one or several openings in which fit in the working position, corresponding bosses of one or the other half-bodies.

When dismounting a central body according to the invention, one must always begin by the rear half-body, whether said central body is alone or makes a part of a whole (strip or matrix). It is necessary and sufficient to this effect to have the possibility to disconnect and to uncase the body by a simple translation along its axis, exerting directly or by means of a suitable tool, a

simple pulling on the said half-body. This removing does not modify in any way the position of the two other components of the body according to the invention, that is to say, the other half-body which keeps without change its position on the front side of the matrix and the central conductive member spigot-joined or fastened to the said half-body, if the outer size of the electrical conductor coming to be connected to the said rear part allows it, the rear half-body may even by removed by sliding along said conductor without this latter being disconnected or unwelded from the corresponding extremity of the central member of the bushmg.

In its backward movement of the rear half of the body according to the invention must, first, be able to free itself from the two bosses of the said front half which correspond to it, said bosses being supposed for example placed in a horizontal plane; at the same time the said rear half-body must be able to free itself in the plane perpendicular to the preceding one and passing through its longitudinal axis, from the two bosses belonging respectively to the adjacent bodies, which perpendicular plane constitutes one of the symmetrical planes.

These uncasing movements could be rendered easier by a temporary elastic deformation of the parts facing each other.

After that it is proceeded to the dismounting of the central conductive member of the body, this dismounting must be achieved in the rear side, supposing that the electrical connection of the front side has by itself previously dismounted.

As above, the part of the front half-body bearing the boss fastening the central member must preferably be liable to support an elastic deformation of a sufficient amplitude to permit the disengagement of the said fastening boss.

In the case the central body according to the invention is intended to give way to more than the one electrical path (that is to say when the said body receives on one side more than one coming electrical conductor, conductors to which correspond on the other side one or several bridges) the central conductive member comprises itself as many metallic components as there are coming conductors, all the metallic components associated with their separating insulation walls placed between them are taken off in one whole as if it were a sole block; the elementary components are disassembled afterwards and taken apart from the insulating parts separating them.

In order to disengage at least the fore half-body corresponding to, the rear half-body which has just been dismounted, it is necessary to disengage during part of tion or transformation.

The central bodies adjacent to the one which has been dismounted are still conveniently fastened on their three other sides.

In the case again of a matrix, it is proceeded in the exact reverse order when one desires to mount a new central body in the place of one which has been removed.

No need to say that it is necessary to provide for an outer frame sufficiently strong ensuring the holding and the tightness of the strips or of the matrices.

Said strips or matrices may, over and above the central bodies, comprise lines and columns intended to make easier the assembly and the location of the bodies of the matrix. These lines and columns may be constituted of elements, called location and assembling elements, having the same modulus as the active bodies but being simplified structures allowing, on the one hand, to place and hold an identification label and, on the other hand, to engage an assembling tool such as a rod, for example, which is threaded at its extremities.

Other particulars and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, description and drawings relating to a preferred mode of embodiment which is merely given by way of illustrative and non Iimitative example.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a central body according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the body shown in ductive components of a central body with four paths.

FIG. 6 shows in elevation view, a neuter location and assembling element.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of a matrix with 18 lines and 22 columns.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a perspective view of respectively the pin and the sleeve of the complementary body constituting the male connector according to the invention.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show views of this complementary body respectively a sectional view taken on its vertical symmetry plane and an upper view.

In all these figures the. different constitutive parts have been referenced with the same numbers.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the reference 1 indicates the rear half-body, 2 the fore half-body. The central conductive member 3 is shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. A rear cavity 21 accommodates the end 4 of the central conductive member 3. One of a pair of bosses 22 of fore half-body 2 is engaged in an elastic clamp 23 constituted by the extremity of the corresponding wall of rear half-body l. i

A boss 14 on fore half-body 2 comes in an elastic clamp 24 formed in the extremity of the wall of rear half-body 1 adjacent to the one in which the clamp 23 is provided. Boss 14 is provided with two slots 25 for abutting engagement with the wall 26 of the back of clamp 24. The inclined plane 27 facilitates the fitting together of the two half-bodies the one into the other.

As shown in FIG. 1, boss 22 does not reach the bottom of clamp 23, the recess 15 remaining free in its greater part.

The half-bodies l and 2 being symmetrical with respect to their common longitudinal axis, the two non visible sides of the said half-bodies are respectively identical to those which are facing them.

The bosses l4 and 22 are hollow in their middle only in order to lighten the part 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the conductive plates 4 and 5, constituting the connection zone of central conductive member 3, protrude into respective cavities of the corresponding bodies 1 and 2. The recess 28 is intended to receive a boss, not shown, which is a part of the inner wall of the corresponding half-body 2.

The four lateral walls of the rear part of the fore halfbody 2 are rendered independent from each other by means of four longitudinal cuts 29 in order to free them for transverse flexibility making sure, thanks to the elasticity of the material which this body is made of, that the bosses penetrate in their respective recesses during the movement of engagement, or get out during the movement of disengagement.

As it has already been said, all this applies to the assemblies by spigot-joint or by fasteners of the constitutive parts of a same central body as well as to the assemblies between adjacent bodies of one strip or one matrix.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the reference 30 indicates one of the central conductive components of a central body having two paths. Two connecting plates 94 and 95 of the components are connected electrically. The points 31 and 32 serve to embed the components in the intermediate insulating component not shown, separating the said conductive component from the symmetrical one placed on the opposite side. This disposition al lows rapid dismounting of the two components 30, integral the one with the other, on the one hand, and with the said insulating component on the other hand, these being possibly disassembled afterwards.

In FIG. 5, 33 are the four central conductive components of a central body having four paths. In the same way as it has just been explained, members 33 are rendered integral together by means of intermediate insulating components so that they may be disconnected as a unit.

In FIG. 6, the reference 11 indicates a neuter element for location and assembly. Such elements have two parts to play: on the one hand, thanks to the transversal openings 13 they can be piled on the tightening rods of the strips or of the matrices, the recesses 15 allowing then to place conveniently all bosses 14 of the active bodies which are next to them; the dovetail bosses 16 the threaded rods tightening the said matrix and on' which are piled the neuter elements 11.

With the help of the FIGS. 8 to 11, we shall now describe a complementary body allowing to render easily removable the connection of flexible cable to the cen tral body which has just been described.

In FIG. 8 is to be seen a metallic part called pin, intended to assume the electrical connection inside the described complementary body, the insulating part of which being called sleeve". This pin comprises two connecting plates 102 and two smaller pawling plates 104, the rear extremities of which (the forward direction being on the left of the drawing) are integral with the vertical branches of the plate 106 bent in the shape of a U.

Each of the branches of this U" ends at the back by a vertical notch such as 108, intended to impede an excessive backward movement of the pin.

The part folded in the shape of a U" is lengthened towards the rear in order to form the lower wall of a cable lug 110, the edges of which are turned onto the core 112 of the conductor which has to be connected; the insulating sheath of this conductor is shown in 114.

When the complementary body is assembled to the central body according to the invention, that is to say when the pin of the male connector enters between the two conductive plates of the central body the plates are here supposed to be parallel to the vertical walls of the U" 106 and constitute the female connection element the extremities of these female plates bear on the fore part of the male plates 102 and oblige these latter because of their converging direction to get closer until that their ends 116 come in contact by their rest surfaces 116. The engagement goes on, still with easy fit, by reciprocal elastic adaptation of the maximal spacing of the male plates 102 to the spacing of the female plates between which are engaged the male plates. The stress entering then in question is higher than during the time the surfaces 116 were getting closer.

FIG. 9 shows the front part of the sleeve 152. The square sectional shape of this front part allows it to slide inside the corresponding bushing, until the plate 154 engages bushing, the inner section of this bushing being also square and having slightly bigger dimensions than the front part.

The lower wall of this front part comprises a lower rail 156 constituting a bearing for the pin. The upper wall has an upper rail 158 followed by a relief 160 for the notches 108. v

The rail 158 is cut by the recess 162 forminga square hole in the upper wall. The front part of the sleeve, ends at the plate 154 the front face of which forms an abutment on each side of the relief 160-for the notches 108.

When the pin penetrates from front to rear into the sleeve, the rail 158 engages between the upper extremities of the vertical branches of the U 106 and separate the small plates 104 until the front part of these latter arrive at the level of the front of the hole 162. These plates are then free to get back to their rest positions and impede, by bearing by their fore end on the rear part of the rail 158, the forward movement of the pin. This latter can neither go backwards, the notches 108 coming to abut onto the plate 154. The relief 160 placed between the vertical walls of the U 106 impedes an eventual rotation of the pin with respect to the sleeve.

The cable lug 110 and the cable 112 are passing'in a duct in the axis of the rear part of the sleeve.

The section of this duct is square and slightly smaller than the one of the front part 152.

In front of each of the four walls of this duct is placed a keying plate such as 172 parallel to them and having the same surface.

The plates 172 are integral with the duct 170 by means of the middle plate 154, the rear plate 174 and an intermediate plate 176 out on each of its four angles in order to be of the same width as the plates 172.

In FIG. 10, in addition to the already mentioned elements, a recess 118 is shown at the lower part of the cable lug 110. This recess ensures as usual a good connection between this lug and the core 1 12 of the cable.

FIG. 11 sets off the position of the fore extremities of the small plates 104 which come to bear on the fore wall of the hole 162, at the level of the upper rail 158.

The various insulating parts, as well as those of the central body, as those of the sleeve are made of an elastic material, fro example a polyamide such as the one commercially known under the name of nylon, other analogous material being of course able to be used such as the poly oxymethylene, known under the commercial name Delrin.

Of course, the complementary body which has just been described may also allow the electrical connec tion with other elements, different from the central movably and automatically secured into said first sleeve by engagement with said yieldable end portion, and a second insulating sleeve formed of elastic material and having an end portion extending over said outwardly extending portion of said conductive member and said yieldable end portion and defining yieldable coupling'means there-between, said end portion of said second sleeve being complementary with said yieldable end portion of said first sleeve and being in a removable interference fit therewith to prevent outward movement of said yieldable end portion, thereby locking said conductive member within said first sleeve, and the tip area of said conductive member being provided with conductive plates for connection with a plate of another connector in cooperative engagement 2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first engagement element is disposed on at least part of the external surface of said second sleeve and is operatively engaged with a second engagement element disposed on at least part of the internal surface of said yieldable end portion.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising; clamping means including a first clamp member disposed on the first sleeve and a second clamp member disposed on the second sleeve for operative engagement therewith.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second sleeve comprises a recess defining said first engagement element, said first engagement element operatively engaging a boss on the internal surface of said yieldable end portion, said boss forming said second engagement element.

5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first clamp member comprises a boss disposed on the external surface of said first sleeve, operatively and resiliently engaging the walls of a longitudinal slot formed in said second sleeve, said longitudinal slot constituting said second clamp member.

6. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yieldable portion comprises a plurality of longitudinal slits spaced along the periphery of said yieldable portion.

7. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yieldable coupling means permits assembly of a plurality of identical connectors into a modular array, and includes on the external surface of said first sleeve a pair of diametrically opposed bosses and a pair of diametrically opposed recesses, the diameters respectively defined by the geometrical centers of said bosses and of said recesses being co-planar and mutually perpendicular, and said recesses of said first sleeve operatively engage said bosses of two adjacent first sleeves and said bosses of said first sleeve operatively engage said recesses of two adjacent first sleeves.

8. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said assembly means are disposed on the external surface of said yieldable portion.

9. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7,

wherein said second sleeve has a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots arranged to surround said bosses when said second sleeve is operatively engaged with said first sleeve, and a pair of diametrically opposed openings arranged to surround said recesses when said second sleeve is operatively engaged with said first sleeve, whereby said assembly means remain accessible after operative engagement of said first and second sleeves.

10. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, comprising clamping means including a boss disposed on the external surface of said first sleeve, operatively and resiliently engaging the walls of a longitudinal slot formed in said second sleeve, said longitudinal slot constituting said second clamp member, and being extended to provide said diametrically opposed openings.

11. A modular device for electrical connection comprising:

a. an insulated connector body having:

1. a front half-body,

2. a rear half-body,

3. means on said half-bodies to clamp them together in axial alignment,

4. at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear,

5. means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and

6. a cavity on each of the outer ends of said halfbodies; and

b. at least one complementary body having:

1. an insulated sleeve, and

2. at least one second cOnductive plate inside said sleeve, said second sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said cavities, it being held in this position by pressure between said conductive plates, and

3. said means to clamp said half-bodies comprising mating slots and bosses, and

4. said bosses having opposed grooves into the sides of said slots fit.

12. A modular device for electrical connection comprising:

a. An insulated connector body having:

1. a front half-body,

2. a rear half-body,

3. means on said half-bodies to camp them together in axial alignment,

4. at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear,

5. means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and

6. a cavity on each of the outer ends of said halfbodies; and

b. at least one complementary body having:

1. an insulated sleeve, and

2. at least one second conductive plate inside said sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for which removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said cavities, it being held in this position by pressure between said conductive plates, and

3. said half-bodies being approximately square in cross-section, the angles of intersection of the walls at the rear portion of the front half-body being slit to permit deformation upon joining and separating of said half'bodies.

13. A modular device for electrical connection comprising:

a. An insulated connector body having:

1. a front half'body,

2. a rear half-body,

3. means on said half-bodies to clamp them together in axial alignment,

4. at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear,

5. means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and

6. a cavity on each of the outer ends of said halfbodies; and

b. at least one complementary body having:

1. an insulated sleeve, and

2. at least one second conductive plate inside said sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by par tial penetration into one of said between said conductive plates, and

3. said means to clamp said half-bodies together comprising mating slots and bosses, and

4. said bosses being adapted to mate with said recesses on an adjacent central body in the matrix with adjacent bodies being rotated to 90 angular degrees with respect to one another.

14. A modular device for electrical connection comprising: an insulated connector body having: a front half-body, a rear half-body, means on said half-bodies to clamp them together in axial alignment, at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear, means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and a cavity on each of the outer ends of said half-bodies and, at least one complementary body having: an insulated sleeve, and, at least one second conductive plate inside said sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said cavities, it being held in this position by pressure between said conductive plates, and, said second conductive plate forming a metallic lengthening pin formed by folding a metal sheet, the transversal section of said pin having a U shape for at least a part of its length, the base of the U" being the lower side and the extremity of said sleeve by which it may be assembled to said connector body being considered as the front extremity; said sleeve having a relief under its upper wall, an upper rail extending from the front to the back on a section of the front part of this sleeve, this front part being delimited with respect to the rear part by a surface directed transversely and forming an abutment for said pin, said abutment being placed above the inner free space of said sleeve and adapted to impede an excessive backward movement of said pin; said pin having at its upper part and at a predetermined distance of its fore extremity at.

- the section of said pin placed at the rear of the small plates being greater than the greatest width of said upper rail, these vertical walls being terminated at the rear at least at their upper part by an abrupt notch coming to rest on said abutment, the front extremity of said small plates coming to rest on the vertical walls of said upper rail and corresponding to a diminution of the width thereof.

15. A modular device as defined in claim 14 wherein said upper rail has a constant width and extends from said front extremity of said sleeve to the fore part of a hole in the upper wall-of the fore part of this sleeve, the part of the fore wall of this hole corresponding to said rail forming said notch on which comes to rest the front extremity of said small plate, a relief having the same cross-section as the upper rail, lengthening it between the back of this hole and the above-mentioned abutment, this relief coming between the branches of the above-mentioned U.

16. A modular device as defined in claim 14 wherein said lower wall of said front part of said sleeve further comprises, in relief towards the inside, a lower rail having a constant width greater than the width of said upper rail.

17. A modular device as defined in claim 14 wherein said electrical connection of said pin with the conductive plates inside said connector body is achieved when the front extremity of the pin comes between said plates, placed in vertical longitudinal planes, the front part of said pin is constituted of two connection plates integral with said pin through their rear extremities which are connected to the vertical walls under the back extremities of the small plates, these connecting plates being longer than the small plats, and diverging, first from their back extremities towards the front part, being still at the same level, then converging without that their front extremities come in contact when the above-mentioned sleeve is not engaged in the abovementioned central body, these front extremities being approximately parallel on a small length in order to constitute resting surfaces when they are set in contact, the maximal distance apart of these plates being a little greater than the distance apart of the said conductive plates of said connector body, so that when said sleeve is inserted in the connector body the maximal distance is lessened by the plates of said connector body by elastic bending of the plates borne by said pin in the vicinity of their rear extremities until these resting surfaces come in contact with one another.

18. A complementary body forming in conjunction with an insulated connector body, a modular device for electrical connection wherein said insulated connector body comprises at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in the direction from front to rear, means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device and a cavof said pin having a U shape for at least part'of its length, the base of the U being the lower side and extremity of said sleeve by which it may be assembled to said connector body being considered as the front extremity; said sleeve having a relief under its upper wall,

an upper rail extending from the front to the back on a section of the front part of this sleeve, this front part being delimited with respect to the rear part by surface directed transversely and forming an abutment for said pin, said abutment being placed above the inner free space of said sleeve and adapted to impede an excessive backward movement of said pin; said pin having at its upper part at a predetermined distance of its fore extremity, at least one small plate obtained by partial cutting in the vertical walls of said pin alone; the rear sides of the small plates not being cut, the small plates being folded to converge forwards, leaving between them, in the position of rest, a free space smaller than the width of said upper rail, the distance apart of these vertical walls in the section of said pin placed at the rear of the small plates being greater than the greatest width of said upper rail, these vertical walls terminating at the rear, at least at their upper part, by an abrupt notch coming to rest on said abutment, the front extremity of said small plates coming to rest on the vertical walls of said upper rail and corresponding to a diminution of the width thereof.

19. The complementary body as claimed in claim 18 wherein said upper rail has a constant width and extends from said front extremity of said sleeve to the fore part of a hole in the upper wall of the fore part of this sleeve, the part of the fore wall of this hole corresponding to said rail forming said notch on which comes to rest, the front extremity of the small plate, a relief having the same cross-section as the upper rail, lengthening it between the back of this hole and abovementioned abutment, this relief coming between the branches of the above-mentioned U".

20. The modular device as claimed in claim 18 wherein said lower wall of said front part of said sleeve further comprises, in relief towards the inside, a lower rail having a constant width greater than the width of said upper rail.

21. The complementary body as claimed in claim 18 wherein the electrical connection between the pin with the conductive plates inside said connector body is achieved when the front extremity of the pin comes between said plates, placed in vertical longitudinal planes, the front part of said pin is constituted of two connection platesintegral with said pin through their rear extremities which are connected to the vertical walls under the back extremities of the small plates, these connecting platesbeing longer than the small plates, and'diverging, first from their back extremities toward the front part, being still at the same level, then converging without their front extremities coming into contact when the above-mentioned sleeve is not engaged in the above-mentioned central body, these front extremities being approximately parallel on a. small length in order to constitute resting surfaces when they are set in contact, the maximum distance apart of these plates being a little greater than the distance apart of the said conductive plates of said connector body, so that when the sleeve is inserted into the connector body the maximum distance is lessened by the plates of said connector body by elastic bending of the plates borne by said pin in the vicinity of theirextremities until these resting surfaces come into contact with one another. 

1. An electrical connector comprising a first insulating sleeve formed of elastic material and having a yieldable end portion, at least one conductive member disposed within said first sleeve and having a portion extending outwardly from said yieldable end portion, means permitting said conductive member to be removably and automatically secured into said first sleeve by engagement with said yieldable end portion, and a second insulating sleeve formed of elastic material and having an end portion extending over said outwardly extending portion of said conductive member and said yieldable end portion and defining yieldable coupling means there-between, said end portion of said second sleeve being complementary with said yieldable end portion of said first sleeve and being in a removable interference fit therewith to prevent outward movement of said yieldable end portion, thereby locking said conductive member within said first sleeve, and the tip area of said conductive member being provided with conductive plates for connection with a plate of another connector in cooperative engagement.
 2. a rear half-body,
 2. a rear half-body,
 2. a rear half-body,
 2. at least one second conductive plate inside said sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said cavities, it being held in this position by pressure between said conductive plates, and
 2. at least one second cOnductive plate inside said sleeve, said second sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said cavities, it being held in this position by pressure between said conductive plates, and
 2. at least one second conductive plate inside said sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said between said conductIve plates, and
 2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first engagement element is disposed on at least part of the external surface of said second sleeve and is operatively engaged with a second engagement element disposed on at least part of the internal surface of said yieldable end portion.
 3. said half-bodies being approximately square in cross-section, the angles of intersection of the walls at the rear portion of the front half-body being slit to permit deformation upon joining and separating of said half-bodies.
 3. means on said half-bodies to clamp them together in axial alignment,
 3. means on said half-bodies to camp them together in axial alignment,
 3. said means to clamp said half-bodies together comprising mating slots and bosses, and
 3. said means to clamp said half-bodies comprising mating slots and bosses, and
 3. means on said half-bodies to clamp them together in axial alignment,
 3. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising; clamping means including a first clamp member disposed on the first sleeve and a second clamp member disposed on the second sleeve for operative engagement therewith.
 4. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second sleeve comprises a recess defining said first engagement element, said first engagement element operatively engaging a boss on the internal surface of said yieldable end portion, said boss forming said second engagement element.
 4. at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear,
 4. said bosses being adapted to mate with said recesses on an adjacent central body in the matrix with adjacent bodies being rotated to 90 angular degrees with respect to one another.
 4. said bosses having opposed grooves into which the sides of said slots fit.
 4. at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear,
 4. at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear,
 5. means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and
 5. means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and
 5. means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and
 5. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first clamp member comprises a boss disposed on the external surface of said first sleeve, operatively and resiliently engaging the walls of a longitudinal slot formed in said second sleeve, said longitudinal slot constituting said second clamp member.
 6. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yieldable portion comprises a plurality of longitudinal slits spaced along the periphery of said yieldable portion.
 6. a cavity on each of the outer ends of said half-bodies; and b. at least one complementary body having:
 6. a cavity on each of the outer ends of said half-bodies; and b. at least one complementary body having:
 6. a cavity on each of the outer ends of said half-bodies; and b. at least one complementary body having:
 7. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said yieldable coupling means pErmits assembly of a plurality of identical connectors into a modular array, and includes on the external surface of said first sleeve a pair of diametrically opposed bosses and a pair of diametrically opposed recesses, the diameters respectively defined by the geometrical centers of said bosses and of said recesses being co-planar and mutually perpendicular, and said recesses of said first sleeve operatively engage said bosses of two adjacent first sleeves and said bosses of said first sleeve operatively engage said recesses of two adjacent first sleeves.
 8. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said assembly means are disposed on the external surface of said yieldable portion.
 9. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second sleeve has a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots arranged to surround said bosses when said second sleeve is operatively engaged with said first sleeve, and a pair of diametrically opposed openings arranged to surround said recesses when said second sleeve is operatively engaged with said first sleeve, whereby said assembly means remain accessible after operative engagement of said first and second sleeves.
 10. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 9, comprising clamping means including a boss disposed on the external surface of said first sleeve, operatively and resiliently engaging the walls of a longitudinal slot formed in said second sleeve, said longitudinal slot constituting said second clamp member, and being extended to provide said diametrically opposed openings.
 11. A modular device for electrical connection comprising: a. an insulated connector body having:
 12. A modular device for electrical connection comprising: a. An insulated connector body having:
 13. A modular device for electrical connection comprising: a. An insulated connector body having:
 14. A modular device for electrical connection comprising: an insulated connector body having: a front half-body, a rear half-body, means on said half-bodies to clamp them together in axial alignment, at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in a direction from front to rear, means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device, and a cavity on each of the outer ends of said half-bodies and, at least one complementary body having: an insulated sleeve, and, at least one second conductive plate inside said sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removable engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate; whereby said complementary body is connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said cavities, it being held in this position by pressure between said conductive plates, and, said second conductive plate forming a metallic lengthening pin formed by folding a metal sheet, the transversal section of said pin having a ''''U'''' shape for at least a part of its length, the base of the ''''U'''' being the lower side and the extremity of said sleeve by which it may be assembled to said connector body being considered as the front extremity; said sleeve having a relief under its upper wall, an upper rail extending from the front to the back on a section of the front part of this sleeve, this front part being delimited with respect to the rear part by a surface directed transversely and forming an abutment for said pin, said abutment being placed above the inner free space of said sleeve and adapted to impede an excessive backward movement of said pin; said pin having at its upper part and at a predetermined distance of its fore extremity at least one small plate obtained by partial cutting in the vertical walls of said pin alone; the rear sides of the small plates not being cut, the small plates being folded to converge forwards, leaving between them, in the position of rest, a free space smaller than the width of said upper rail, the distance apart of these vertical walls in the section of said pin placed at the rear of the small plates being greater than the greatest width of said upper rail, these vertical walls being terminated at the rear at least at their upper part by an abrupt notch coming to rest on said abutment, the front extremity of said small plates coming to rest on the vertical walls of said upper rail and corresponding to a diminution of the width thereof.
 15. A modular device as defined in claim 14 wherein said upper rail has a constant width and extends from said front extremity of said sleeve to the fore part of a hole in the upper wall of the fore part of this sleeve, the part of the fore wall of this hole corresponding to saId rail forming said notch on which comes to rest the front extremity of said small plate, a relief having the same cross-section as the upper rail, lengthening it between the back of this hole and the above-mentioned abutment, this relief coming between the branches of the above-mentioned ''''U''''.
 16. A modular device as defined in claim 14 wherein said lower wall of said front part of said sleeve further comprises, in relief towards the inside, a lower rail having a constant width greater than the width of said upper rail.
 17. A modular device as defined in claim 14 wherein said electrical connection of said pin with the conductive plates inside said connector body is achieved when the front extremity of the pin comes between said plates, placed in vertical longitudinal planes, the front part of said pin is constituted of two connection plates integral with said pin through their rear extremities which are connected to the vertical walls under the back extremities of the small plates, these connecting plates being longer than the small plats, and diverging, first from their back extremities towards the front part, being still at the same level, then converging without that their front extremities come in contact when the above-mentioned sleeve is not engaged in the above-mentioned central body, these front extremities being approximately parallel on a small length in order to constitute resting surfaces when they are set in contact, the maximal distance apart of these plates being a little greater than the distance apart of the said conductive plates of said connector body, so that when said sleeve is inserted in the connector body the maximal distance is lessened by the plates of said connector body by elastic bending of the plates borne by said pin in the vicinity of their rear extremities until these resting surfaces come in contact with one another.
 18. A complementary body forming in conjunction with an insulated connector body, a modular device for electrical connection wherein said insulated connector body comprises at least one conductive plate passing through said connector body in the direction from front to rear, means for connecting said connector body to similar devices to form said modular device and a cavity on the outer end of said insulated connector body, said complementary body comprising an insulated sleeve and carrying at least one second conductive plate inside said sleeve, said second conductive plate adapted for removal engagement with said first mentioned conductive plate allowing said complementary body to be connected to said connector body by partial penetration into one of said cavities carried thereby and being held in this position by pressure exerted between conductive plates, and wherein said second conductive plate defines a metallic lengthening pin and is formed by folding a metal sheet, the transversal section of said pin having a ''''U'''' shape for at least part of its length, the base of the ''''U'''' being the lower side and extremity of said sleeve by which it may be assembled to said connector body being considered as the front extremity; said sleeve having a relief under its upper wall, an upper rail extending from the front to the back on a section of the front part of this sleeve, this front part being delimited with respect to the rear part by surface directed transversely and forming an abutment for said pin, said abutment being placed above the inner free space of said sleeve and adapted to impede an excessive backward movement of said pin; said pin having at its upper part at a predetermined distance of its fore extremity, at least one small plate obtained by partial cutting in the vertical walls of said pin alone; the rear sides of the small plates not being cut, the small plates being folded to converge forwards, leaving between them, in the position of rest, a free space smaller than the width of said upper rail, the distance apart of these vertical walls in the section of said pin placed at the rear of the smAll plates being greater than the greatest width of said upper rail, these vertical walls terminating at the rear, at least at their upper part, by an abrupt notch coming to rest on said abutment, the front extremity of said small plates coming to rest on the vertical walls of said upper rail and corresponding to a diminution of the width thereof.
 19. The complementary body as claimed in claim 18 wherein said upper rail has a constant width and extends from said front extremity of said sleeve to the fore part of a hole in the upper wall of the fore part of this sleeve, the part of the fore wall of this hole corresponding to said rail forming said notch on which comes to rest, the front extremity of the small plate, a relief having the same cross-section as the upper rail, lengthening it between the back of this hole and above-mentioned abutment, this relief coming between the branches of the above-mentioned ''''U''''.
 20. The modular device as claimed in claim 18 wherein said lower wall of said front part of said sleeve further comprises, in relief towards the inside, a lower rail having a constant width greater than the width of said upper rail.
 21. The complementary body as claimed in claim 18 wherein the electrical connection between the pin with the conductive plates inside said connector body is achieved when the front extremity of the pin comes between said plates, placed in vertical longitudinal planes, the front part of said pin is constituted of two connection plates integral with said pin through their rear extremities which are connected to the vertical walls under the back extremities of the small plates, these connecting plates being longer than the small plates, and diverging, first from their back extremities toward the front part, being still at the same level, then converging without their front extremities coming into contact when the above-mentioned sleeve is not engaged in the above-mentioned central body, these front extremities being approximately parallel on a small length in order to constitute resting surfaces when they are set in contact, the maximum distance apart of these plates being a little greater than the distance apart of the said conductive plates of said connector body, so that when the sleeve is inserted into the connector body the maximum distance is lessened by the plates of said connector body by elastic bending of the plates borne by said pin in the vicinity of their extremities until these resting surfaces come into contact with one another. 